As Sydney prepares for the world's biggest sporting celebration, Heritage
NSW reflects on sport as part of our cultural heritage. We look at the
significance of sport for Aboriginal communities, as well as finding out
about the new State Heritage Register listing of the Bradman Oval in Bowral.
Our cover this month features objects associated with NSW Olympians of
earlier eras. These wonderful objects are part of the collection of the NSW
Hall of Champions. Located at the State Sports Centre in Sydney Olympic
Park, Homebush Bay, the museum provides an insight into one of Australia's
favourite obsessions - sport. It was established in 1979 by the NSW
Department of Sport and Recreation to celebrate the outstanding
achievements of sportsmen and women from NSW. The museum's collection
includes over 2000 objects as well as action photographs highlighting the
feats of 300 athletes representing 44 sports. The NSW Hall of Champions is
listed on the State Heritage Register.
Cover: Running shoes worn by Marjorie Jackson at the 1952 Helsinki
Olympics. Known as the "Lithgow Flash", she was the first Australian woman
to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympic Games. She won both the
100m and 200m sprint at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. Photograph
courtesy of the NSW Hall of Champions.
Women's swimming costume designed by Speedo for the 1968 Mexico City
Olympics. The green and gold wattle costume is a design sample from Speedo.
NSW swimmer Karen Moras won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle in one of
these costumes. Photograph courtesy of the NSW Hall of Champions.
One of the torches carried at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Photograph
courtesy of the NSW Hall of Champions.
Gold, silver and bronze medals won by Andrew "Boy" Charlton at the 1924
Paris Olympics. Photograph by Courtside Pty Ltd, courtesy of the NSW Hall
of Champions.
